Good Samaritan Detains Alleged Mugger

LINDEN – At least three teens mugged a man on East Curtis Street last week, but a good Samaritan helped police capture one of them, authorities said.

The victim, a 31-year-old man, was walking on the street’s 500 block shortly after 9 p.m. on Friday, April 3. He told police that he was attacked from behind. His attackers knocked him to the ground, hit him several times in the head and took the cell phone from his pants pocket, authorities said.

During the attack, a passing motorist got out of his car and intervened on behalf of the victim, police said. He was able to detain one of the attackers, while the other two fled with the phone, police said.

The teen was arrested and taken to the Union County Juvenile Detention Center in Elizabeth, according to police. Three female juveniles who were present at the scene were also taken into custody, but they were subsequently released to their parents after investigators determined that they were not involved in the attack.